Gould will line up in the Australian Open 63kg grade. Lifting begins late tonight.
To get into contention for the Commonwealth Games, Gould has to take a number of steps, the first one at the Australian Open.
Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand has decided for lifters to be in contention for the Commonwealth Games they are required to compete at the event held in Melbourne.
By competing tonight she will get a Commonwealth ranking.
She also will have to line up in the North Island selection trial in Auckland in June and the Oceania and Commonwealth championships in Australia in September.
The final criterion will be competing well at the New Zealand championships in October in Dunedin.
It is something of a coup for weightlifting in Dunedin, that the national championships are heading for the city.
The last time the championships took place in Dunedin was in 1972, so it has been a long time between drinks.
Gould, who is the marketing manager at the Highlanders rugby franchise, has been the best female lifter at the South Island championships in the past three years.
She has Otago records in the 63kg and 69kg class, lifting a combined 168kg in the 63kg class, and 170kg in the heavier class.
Once she finishes her event tonight she will have an idea of her ranking and whether a bid for the Games is realistic. She must get a ranking of top six in the Commonwealth to be a chance to gain the go-ahead from the Commonwealth Games selectors.
